Saliva Aspirator

Abstract

A saliva aspirator having an injection moulded plastic component forming a coupling for connection to a suction hose, optionally via an adapter. A plastic moulded part is manufactured as a multi-component injection moulded part and forms a plastic component which is harder than another plastic component, the hard component, the coupling and optionally the adapter. The other plastic component, the soft or flexible component, forms a suction area with at least one suction opening or suction pore for saliva and an outlet opening towards the suction hose and consists in particular of an open-pored, preferably thermoplastic, elastomer.

1 . A saliva aspirator comprising
 a plastic moulding made of injection moulding, comprising a coupling for connection to a suction hose,   optionally an adapter for connection to the suction hose,   wherein the plastic moulding is produced as a multi-component injection moulding comprising a rigid plastic component and a flexible plastic component,   wherein the rigid plastic component has a hardness greater than the flexible plastic component and comprises the coupling,   wherein the flexible plastic component comprises a suction region with at least one suction opening or pore for saliva and an outlet opening towards the suction hose.   
     
     
         2 . The saliva aspirator according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the flexible plastic component has a hardness lower than the rigid plastic component and is fabricated of an open-pored, thermoplastic, elastomer.   
     
     
         3 . The saliva aspirator according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the adapter is fabricated of the rigid plastic.   
     
     
         4 . The saliva aspirator according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plastic moulding comprises a tongue holder which extends away on a side of the moulding opposite the suction region.   
     
     
         5 . The saliva aspirator according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the flexible plastic component is dimensionally stable with respect to the suction vacuum of the saliva aspirator, at a level of between 80 mbar and 250 mbar.   
     
     
         6 . The saliva aspirator according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the rigid component extends at least partially or completely around the outlet opening and keeps the outlet opening stretched open.   
     
     
         7 . The saliva aspirator according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the suction region is formed by a hollow chamber which is closed on all sides apart from the at least one suction opening or pore and the outlet opening, and which suction region is under negative pressure during operation of the saliva aspirator.   
     
     
         8 . The saliva aspirator according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the suction region, on a side opposite the tongue holder, is formed entirely by the flexible component.   
     
     
         9 . The saliva aspirator according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the rigid component and the flexible component are firmly connected to each other by bonded injection moulding.   
     
     
         10 . The saliva aspirator according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the outlet opening has a cross-section which is larger than a cross-section of the suction tube.   
     
     
         11 . The saliva aspirator according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the tongue holder extends in extension of a highly oval or elliptical cross-section of the suction area.   
     
     
         12 . The saliva aspirator according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the suction region has a cross-section which is substantially constant over its longitudinal extension up to the outlet opening, which cross-section is larger than a free flow cross-section of the suction hose.   
     
     
         13 . The saliva aspirator according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the suction region has, on a side opposite the tongue holder or the rigid component, a structure profile with ribs or projections, with a profile height which is substantially the same over a course of the side.   
     
     
         14 . The saliva aspirator according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the structure profile has a height of more than 0.2 mm or about 0.5 mm, and   wherein the suction pores of the suction region end at a base of the structure profile, such that, when the structure profile bears against tissue, the structure profile prevents the suction pore from also blocking the tissue.   
     
     
         15 . The saliva aspirator according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the adapter can be releasably coupled to the coupling of the moulded part and,   wherein the adapter produces a cross-sectional adaptation between the suction tube and the outlet opening and is made of the rigid plastic as a part separate from the moulded part.   
     
     
         16 . The saliva aspirator according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the adapter is configured for positive connection to the plastic moulding and/or is positively connected to the suction hose via the coupling.   
     
     
         17 . The saliva aspirator according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the suction hose has an integrated wire receptacle for receiving a plastically deformable wire, which ends at the adapter and/or at the plastic moulding for connecting the wire thereto.   
     
     
         18 . The saliva aspirator according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the wire extends into the adapter and is captively anchored therein, such that the suction hose cannot be separated from the adapter without being destroyed.